2024 Underwood Stakes Day Preview

We’ve already been treated to some incredible Group 1 contests this season, and another big one looms at Caulfield on Underwood Stakes Day.

Won by the likes of Alligator Blood (x2), Zaaki and Black Heart Bart (x2) throughout the last decade, the Underwood Stakes always draws a high-quality field, and we’ll witness horses like Pericles, Buckaroo and Place Du Carrousel chase success at the highest level on Saturday afternoon.

I’ve run the rule over every horse on the program, and you can find my complete Underwood Stakes Day tips below.

Magic Man, Joao Moreira jumps aboard Quantum Cat in the first on Underwood Stakes Day and the horse looks well placed to strike.

Quantum Cat went for a short break after finishing midfield behind one of the potential 2024 Melbourne Cup horses – Berkshire Breeze – at Flemington in June, and he returned to action to fill the minors behind a fit Lauding at The Valley last month.

With added fitness this week, he can fight out the finish again.

2 Units Quantum Cat

Federer is ready to step up into Saturday metro company this week and this looks a great opportunity for him.

The Dundeel gelding has only made two appearances at the races so far, but he stamped himself as pone to watch by winning to the tune of three-and-a-half lengths at Ballarat early last month.

Having franked that performance with an incredible six-length romp at Sandown last time out, this looks the next logical step for him to take.

5 Units Federer

Danny O’Brien holds a strong hand in the third on Underwood Stakes Day including Sassy Boom, I think will prove tough to catch.

Sassy Boom turned in some fine performances last time in, winning the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes at this track and trip most notably.

She took up the runner in BM84 company here when resuming last month and while look the winner halfway up the straight, her condition just gave out a little and a few finished over the top.

With the benefit of that run under her belt, a good barrier and the booking of Blake Shinn, I think she’ll be right in the finish.

2 Units Sassy Boom

Silmarillion justified market support when flying home to win the Atlantic Jewel Stakes at The Valley a fortnight ago, and she can make it two in a row in Saturday’s Jim Moloney Stakes.

The Too Darn Hot filly kicked off her campaign north of the border, only just missing in maiden company at Warwick arm before again finishing second in a photo in the Group 2 Silver Shadow.

She looks to be in peak order this week and getting out to 1400m looks suitable at this point of her preparation.

3 Units Silmarillion

Another Wil was an eye-catching winner here in his first run back from a break and he can continue on through the grades in Saturday’s Testa Rossa Stakes.

Another Wil enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence last time in, winning each of his first four runs back, including the Doncaster Prelude, before ending his campaign just over two lengths behind the winner in the Doncaster Mile.

His fresh effort in BM100 company suggested to be he’s returned a better horse, and this race is well within his abilities.

5 Units Another Wil

Another ripper field has materialised in the sixth and there is a case to be made for a few of them, including Commemorative.

Commemorative recorded two wins from just three starts in her autumn prep, including the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes, while I thought she was excellent into second, beaten only a head by Kimochi in the Tow Show Quality last month.

She’s been back to the trials since that race and gets the services of Jamie Kah this week.

2 Units Commemorative

I’m going to have something on Muramasa at nice odds in this year’s MRC Foundation Cup.

Muramasa has proven to be an excellent horse for the Busuttin & Young yard for the last couple of years, and he recorded three wins in succession last spring, including both the Group 3 Coongy Cup and the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

He kept on coming into second behind a very impressive Pericles in the So You Think Stakes at The Valley when fresh earlier this month and he’s open to plenty of improvement, while we know the 2000m will also suit.

With even luck from the draw, the $14 about him in MRC Foundation Cup betting (at publish) is overs, in my opinion.

2 Units E/W Muramasa

Is this the weekend that we finally see Pericles realise his Group 1 potential and win the Underwood Stakes? I think so.

Pericles has been a consistent performer in strong black type races throughout his career, and really should have won a Rosehill Guineas last year before going astray in the final 100m.

Having returned to action to fill the minors behind Gentleman Roy and subsequent Group 1 winner, Pinstriped, in the PB Lawrence Stakes, he gave them a galloping lesson in the So You Think last time out.

1800m suits and I simply do not think he gets a better opportunity to win at the highest level than this.

4 Units Pericles

I liked the way that Busustow worked home to finish second in the McKenzie Stakes first-up from a spell and he rates as a key winning chance in an open edition of the Caulfield Guineas Prelude.

Busustow was sent off at double-figure odds ahead of his return at The Valley but mustered a nice turn of foot to finish just over half a length behind Angel Capital.

He boasts a strong second-up record and at around the $8.50 mark this week (at publish), he’s another whom we can have something on each way.

2 Units E/W Busustow

Tough way to end Underwood Stakes Day from a betting perspective, but A Little Deep is yet to taste anything but success this time in and holds a fitness edge over a lot of her key rivals.

Having hit the line to win by a length here at her first run back, the Deep Field mare claimed some valuable black type in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes at The Valley last time out.

Fitter third-up, she can fight out the finish again.

1 Unit A Little Deep